“Mr. Roberts is right. And from the beginning, the letters and gifts sent by the young master were one-sided and only troublesome to me.”

“T-That…”

Oscar’s lips quivered with a shocked expression.

He had always thought that Iris would be grateful for his letters and gifts.

He believed that her replies full of rejection were merely the coquetry and playing hard to get that women often show.

Now that he learned the truth, the back of his head felt numb and he couldn’t come to his senses.

“I believe you understand what I mean, so I’ll be going now.”

“Ah, no…”

“Then, goodbye.”

Iris bowed her head politely and grabbed Eric’s arm, turning around.

Oscar could only watch her back as she left with another man, left alone and stranded.

However, Iris coldly did not look back even once as she left the park and got into the carriage with Eric.

Feeling that she had finally escaped Oscar safely, she turned to Eric with an apologetic face and said:

“I’m sorry, Mr. Roberts.”

“For what?”

“Because of me, you unnecessarily clashed with young master Vandermir.”

From his position as a viscount’s son, it must not have been easy to confront Oscar.

Yet when she was in trouble, he readily stepped forward to block Oscar, which made her grateful but also sorry for causing him trouble.

Eric smiled gently.

“Well, wouldn’t ‘thank you’ be more appropriate in this situation? You didn’t do anything wrong, my lady.”

“Then… thank you, Mr. Roberts.”

“It’s nothing. I was taught from a young age that it’s common sense to help a lady in distress.”

“You’re really a good person, Mr. Roberts.”

Iris said sincerely. Eric was a kind and considerate man.

She felt it clearly during their three meetings.

The way he always set appointments entirely according to Iris’s schedule, or how he always kept about two steps distance so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

He was such a good person, which made her think that she shouldn’t drag out this meeting any longer.

Iris, having made up her mind, looked straight at Eric with resolute eyes.

“Mr. Roberts, you know that our three meetings are over today, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be honest with you. I don’t want to meet with you anymore…”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Eric urgently raised his hand to stop Iris’s words. Then, with a thoughtful face, he slowly stroked the back of his neck before speaking.

“Lady Hugo, I know this is an impolite question, but… Honestly, you have no intention of marriage, do you?”

“What? How did you…”

Iris’s eyes widened in surprise that he had noticed her feelings that no one knew about. Eric gave an awkward smile.

“People can recognize their own kind, you know.”

“…”

“I’m saying that I have no intention of marriage either.”

When he first saw Iris, he immediately noticed her eyes that were only indifferent despite her polite attitude.

Ah, this person came out reluctantly without any intention to marry, just like me.

The moment he realized this, one clever idea came to Eric’s mind.

Even if he ended his relationship with Iris properly like this, his family would continue trying to introduce him to other young ladies.

If that’s the case, it seemed good to maintain just dating with a young lady who shared his intentions, avoiding marriage and not being harassed by family.

“You probably did the same, but I’ve been going to Madam Kelly’s introductions because I couldn’t resist my mother’s pressure. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a waste of time.”

“…”

“If your intentions are similar to mine, how about we continue meeting for a while as if we’re getting to know each other? Then we won’t have to listen to nagging from our parents, which would be good.”

It was an enticing proposition for Iris, who was currently under pressure to marry. Although the duchess wasn’t severely nagging, it was true that she felt burdened by the many expectations placed on her in various ways.

But unable to give a positive answer right away, Iris hesitated and carefully asked:

“Why do you have no intention of marriage, Mr. Roberts?”

“I love studying too much. I have many things I want to achieve and do as a scholar. Of course, I could do it even after marriage, but then the person who marries me would be too unhappy.”

“…”

“A husband who doesn’t take care of the family and only dedicates himself to academics even after marriage, isn’t that the worst?”

Iris couldn’t help but chuckle at the words thrown half-jokingly. It really was the worst.

‘This person has the same thoughts as Ari from the past.’

A person who refuses marriage because they have a dream.

Unlike her, whose reason for not wanting to marry was unclear. Realizing this fact made Iris feel a little lonely.

She had the childish thought that she herself seemed like an adolescent wandering without reason.

“If you find someone you like or develop an intention to marry, I’ll withdraw immediately without any objection. I won’t suddenly cling to you saying I want to get married either.”

Eric placed his right hand on his left chest and raised his left hand as if making a vow, speaking seriously. Then he extended one hand towards Iris.

“Lady Hugo, will you form an alliance with me?”

It was a hand with slender joints and white skin, but with slight calluses on the fingers, probably from holding a pen for a long time.

Looking down at that hand, Iris thought:

‘Right… Mr. Roberts is correct. While I’m meeting this person, I’ll receive less pressure, won’t I?’

Even if she ended things with Eric now, her mother might try to arrange introductions to other young men from Madam Kelly.

But as long as her heart wasn’t settled, the result would be the same no matter who she met.

Iris didn’t want to repeat the act of rejecting someone.

After contemplating, she took Eric’s hand.

“I look forward to working with you, Mr. Roberts.”

“I look forward to it as well, Lady Hugo.”

Eric smiled more brightly than ever before.

And so began the alliance between the eldest son and daughter of each family who had no intention of marriage.

“That’s good.”

Demian’s reaction to checking the invitation for the duchess’s birthday banquet after returning from work was unexpectedly calm. No, it was rather positive.

Arasila was a little surprised, thinking he would at least frown like she had. She had only expected him to dislike it.

“What’s good? I have a headache at the thought of going down to the duchy and being nagged.”

The intention was obvious for calling out the son and daughter-in-law they didn’t even care much about for ten days because of a birthday. They probably planned to keep them trapped in the duchy and torment them.

Arasila, who was more annoyed than afraid of that, let out a deep sigh.

“If I send you down alone, the duke’s family will make a fuss, so we either have to go together or not go at all.”

But no matter how much of a stepmother the duchess was, it was difficult for both of them not to attend the birthday party.

In conservative aristocratic society, not only would they be criticized, but the public opinion that had been barely swayed in their favor could be dispersed.

Arasila was cautious as it could potentially bring down the tower they had carefully built in one go.

“What are you going to do, Demian?”

“We’ll go down to the duchy. We need to find grandfather’s will there.”

Demian had been looking for the previous duke’s will ever since hearing about the arranged marriage from Arasila, but nothing had been found yet in the buildings the duke had set up in the capital.

So he had been thinking of going down to the duchy sometime to search the main house, but since they weren’t on good terms with the duke’s family, he was at a loss for an excuse to visit.

But now that they were invited first from the other side, it seemed to work out well.

“We need grandfather’s will as material proof to officially inherit the duke’s title.”

Demian approached Arasila with a serious face and added:

“So, can you help me find the will, wife?”

“…What is this. If you ask like that, of course I have to say yes.”

In fact, the sooner Demian inherited the duke’s title, the sooner Arasila could divorce and become free.

Since she had originally contracted to cooperate with his succession to the duke’s title when they married, she couldn’t refuse to help either.

Realizing that one way or another, the trip to Vandermir duchy was unavoidable, Arasila said in a determined voice:

“Let’s go, to Vandermir duchy.”

The two of them departed for Vandermir duchy two weeks later.

Since the stay wasn’t too short but not very long either, it was decided that only a small number of close staff members like assistant Colin and Audrey would accompany the couple.

Someone approached Arasila’s side as she was preparing to board the carriage. Turning her head, she saw Colin standing in a polite posture with his hand on his chest.

“It is an honor to accompany you on your first trip to the duchy, my lady. I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to working with you too, Colin.”

Arasila received the greeting with a light nod. Though they weren’t close, they had exchanged a few conversations.

Most of them were just Colin answering Arasila’s question of “Where is Demian?”

Anyway, since it wasn’t a complete stranger accompanying her, Arasila didn’t show any particular wariness.

“I’ll escort you.”

Colin glanced at the carriage and politely extended his hand. Just as Arasila was about to readily take that hand:

“I’ll do it.”

Demian suddenly appeared behind her and took her hand.

Colin immediately put his hands behind his back, bowed politely to him, and readily withdrew.

“Please get in, wife.”

“Ah, yes.”

Arasila boarded the carriage escorted by Demian. As befitting a married couple, the two were scheduled to use the same carriage.

After Demian got on the carriage following her and closed the door, the carriage departed shortly after.

To endure the boring journey to the duchy, they each had a book in their hands.

Arasila had a magic book, Demian had a swordsmanship book.

Feeling slightly carsick from reading for a long time in the shaking carriage, Arasila put down her book and opened the window.

Demian, glancing at her, asked:

“Are you dizzy?”

“A little?”

“Did you take motion sickness medicine?”

Arasila shook her head. She didn’t usually get carsick badly enough to need medicine.

She was just tired from the long journey and was resting her chin on her hand looking out the window when she suddenly asked:

“What kind of place is Vandermir duchy?”

“It’s an ordinary place with everything it needs.”

“Explain a bit more in detail. How does that place feel to you, things like that.”

Arasila had never been to any other territory besides Hugo marquis territory.

She didn’t particularly like going out in the first place, only occasionally leaving the capital when receiving outside requests.

Since it was her first time visiting another family’s territory, she was curious about the atmosphere and feel of Vandermir duchy.

Without taking his eyes off his book, Demian answered in an indifferent voice:

“Well, I don’t have any good memories, so it’s not a welcome feeling.”

Demian recalled the times when he briefly visited the duchy at his father’s call.

The territory changed anew each time he saw it, but the exterior of the lord’s castle always remained the same. Perhaps that’s why he didn’t feel very good when going there.

Because it reminded him of his unhappy past.

“It’s better not to expect much. Even so, the capital will be better, and people won’t be kind to us.”

At this somewhat scathing assessment of his hometown, Arasila lost her words and closed her mouth.

Suddenly, she thought she could guess why Demian was like that and felt she had asked an unnecessary question.

The carriage continued to rush forward earnestly in silence for a while.

The duchess curled the corners of her lips upon hearing the news that the Vandermir couple had departed.

Of course, there was a reason for calling the two of them out under the pretext of her birthday.

All of their previous attempts – sending spies, the grand duchess visiting the capital herself, the attack during the hunting festival, sending numerous threatening letters – had failed.

The only option left was to call them to the duchy and separate them directly.

“We need to divorce those two as soon as possible.”

The duke spat out the words roughly in a hoarse voice.

Having recently taken a proper hit from Demian, he was so angry that he couldn’t even sleep properly.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was rough and complexion sallow from smoking cigars all day.

“We should have opposed the marriage from the beginning no matter what… Things that shouldn’t have met ended up meeting.”

They shouldn’t have acted so leisurely, rashly judging that no young lady would meet such an unusual oddball like Demian.

Who would have known that the famous eccentric young lady of aristocratic society would get along so well with him?